Colorado Rockies’ Trevor Story (27) follows through on a two RBI home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 6, 2016, in Phoenix. (Matt York, The Associated Press)

Bah gawd, those baseballs had families.

Rockies rookie shortstop Trevor Story blasted his fourth home run of the season Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix.

Despite a rocky spring training, Rockies right-hander Jordan Lyles will start Friday’s home opener at Coors Field against the Padres.(Chris Carlson, The Associated Press)

MARINERS 8, ROCKIES 5At Salt River Fields

Scottsdale, Ariz. — For most of the Rockies regulars, Saturday’s Cactus League finale against the Mariners was a throw-away game. The plan: make a cameo appearance, get in a couple of at-bats and then get out with out getting hurt.

Not so for right-hander Jordan Lyles, who has been tabbed to start the regular-season home opener against the Padres on Friday at Coors Field.

Lyles struggled throughout spring training, entering Saturday’s game with a 7.88 ERA and a team-high four homers surrendered in 16 innings. So he needed a solid outing.

What he got was an uneven performance. He allowed one run, three hits and two strikeouts over three innings. That sounds pretty good, but he also walked three, and half of his 30 pitches were outside the strike zone.

“We didn’t give up as many runs, but I did give up three walks, which is not ideal,” said Lyles, who finished the spring with a 7.11 ERA. “I’m going into this season healthy, and that’s exciting. I’m just looking for a healthy season and hoping to contribute to the team.”

His best pitch of the game was a 3-2 sinker he threw to Mariners slugger Robinson Cano to start an inning-ending double play in the first.

HITS
** Nolan Arenado finished his splendid spring by going 1-for-2 with a single. Arenado finished the Cactus League season hitting .542 with six homers and 17 RBIs.

** Ben Paulsen had an RBI double in the second inning and finished the spring hitting .298.

MISSES
** Lefty Chris Rusin, a possible fifth starter once he’s built up his arm, had a bad day. The Mariners lit him up for four runs on three hits and drew two walks in one inning.

** Right-handed reliever Justin Miller, who appears to be a lock to make the team, also struggled. He gave up three runs on two hits and three walks in his inning of work.

UP NEXT
The Rockies finished the Cactus League with a (15-13-4) record. They open the regular season on Monday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. (7:40 p.m MDT, Root TV, 850-AM radio).

Peoria, Ariz. — The Rockies built some pitching depth behind their starting rotation to begin the season — they’re stashing it in the bullpen.

Christian Bergman and Chris Rusin will begin in Colorado’s bullpen as long relievers. Yohan Flande is likely headed to Triple-A. All three have starter’s experience — and will be available if injuries hit or arms falter.

Two of them pitched back-to-back Friday night. Bergman and Flande tag-teamed to hold the Seattle Mariners scorless through seven innings in the Rockies’ only night game this spring, in front of 8,529 mostly M’s fans.

Bergman threw 53 pitches over three innings, giving up just three hits. Flande followed with four innings on 58 pitches, giving up four hits. Bergman struck out four and walked 1. Flande struck out two and walked one.

Taken together, “Berde” (or “Flanman”) pitched a good start — seven innings, seven hits, no runs, six Ks, two walks.

Has anybody ever considered a piggy-back rotation around here? (Just kidding.)

“I feel strong,” Bergman said. “The first inning was a workout, but it was good to get that in and follow it up with a couple strong innings after.”

Bergman prepared at the end of his spring run by ramping up with a starter’s length. He threw his count into the 70s his last outing. This plan was “to a T what it was last year,” he said.

“I learned last year that having my pitch-count built up in spring, all of a sudden two innings feels really easy,” Bergman said. “And I feel like I can recover faster after that.”

If Flande goes to Triple-A Albuquerque to start the season, he could slip into the rotation for the same reason Bergman got starter’s length at the end of spring — to have him doubly ready for the big leagues, as a starter or long reliever.

“We’ll keep him lengthened out,” Weiss said of Flande. “To what degree, I don’t know. But multiple innings.”

HITS

**First base prospect Correlle Prime started for the Rockies as a designated hitter, batting seventh. His double in the second inning scored Ben Paulsen

**Paulsen was the only Rockies player with multiple hits (2-for-3) against a Seattle set of pitchers led by Wade Miley.

Rockies (15-12-4) play their final Cactus League game at home, facing the Mariners again at Salt River Fields, Saturday, 1:10 MT (Root TV, 850-AM radio). Jordan Lyles will pitch for Colorado against Seattle’s Nathan Karns.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.